Massaging instrument



July 30, 1929. N R 1,722,893

MASSAGING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 30, 1929.

M. BURNIER MASSAGING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 39, 1929.

UNlTED STATES MICHEL. BURNIER, OF LA JSANE TE, SWITZERLAND.

MA'SSAGING I I-ISTRUMENT.

Application filed November 25, 19.27, Serial No. 235,636, and in Switzerland March 31, 1927.

Constipation is usually caused by a spasm of the anal sphincter and by the inertness of the gut which lacks all capability of peristaltic movements. It has been found however, that these deran ements can be overcome by a massaging of the respective muscles ifthis massaging is accompanied by a massaging ot the adjacent parts of the rectum. By mechanically acting on the anal sphincter, that 1s, by letting it expand slowly and contract again, it is possible to restore its orig-ii ai suppleness and to cause an immediate discharging of the contents of the gut in the case where the facces have collected at the end of the gut. The massaging of this part acts like a stimulent on the peristaltic movement and causes the advancing of the contents of the gut up to the spot where can be removed by a massaging of the sphincter.

The present invention relates to amassaging instrument which allows the said treatment to be performed either by the patient himself or by some other person. This instrument possesses at least two hollow jaws which jointly form a cylinder and which are combined with a device for separating them. The jaws are provided at their front ends with bosses or heads having larger parts which con nect them with the separating device.

The drawing represents four working ex amples:

Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a plan view of one form;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the aws shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view half in plan and half insection; 7

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmental views of a second working form,

Fig. 6 representing in a side view of the closed aws which enclose a device adapted to prevent the pinching of the mucous membranes and provided with an invaginated part containing a lubricant and Fig. 7 showing the same structure as 6 but in working position, the lefthand side in elevation and the right hand side in crosssection;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a third working form shown in Fig. 9 in side elevation and in Fig. 10 in end elevation.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing two different positions of a fourth working form where the jaws are arranged obliquetly with regard to the separating devicethat is, ob-

liquely to the axis of the swinging separating arms as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

The massaging instrument according to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 possesses two aws 1 whereof each is secured to an arm 2 the two arms being hinged together at 7 and serving as separating means. Bosses 3 are formed at the front ends of these jaws like the bosses or heads of medicated plugs, the diameter of these heads being larger than that of the parts connecting the same with the separating device. The rear part of the aws is made of aigid metal, or of a body like artificial ebonite, or of flexible body like rubber, and carries an annular flange l preventing the jaws from entering too deeply. In order to prevent the mucuous membranes from getting pinched by the closing jaws these jaws are provided with chamfered edges at 5 as may be seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Each jaw is secured to one end of the arms 2 of the separating device and its axis is arranged perpendicularly to the swinging plane of the arms, and, therefore, is parallel to the axis of the pivot 7. The rear parts 6 of the arms 2 are formed like handles. The pivot 7 may be for instance a pin or other member which can easily be removed and cleaned.

by moving the handles towards each other as indicated by arrows 8 the jaws will separate according to the arrows 9 and the arms will assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The treatment by the instrument may be effected by the patient himself. After having introduced the jaws into the anus they are gadually separated by compressing the handles 6. This movement is repeated several times and a massaging of the sphincter is thus obtained, which softens and puts a stop to the anomalous spasm of the said muscle. Besides, the head 3 at the end of the jaws makes contact with the parts immediately behind the anus; and this repeated contact, the effect of which may be increased by swinging the instrument around a longitudinal axis, acts like a massaging of this part of the intestine which is the seat of the peristaltic movement. This massaging will cause the sliding down of the contents of the gut if these had accumulated at the upper part of the gut.

The massaging instrument may comprise more than two aws connected with a device for moving the same parallelly to themselves. The j aws may also have different diameters according to the size and age of the patients.

The position of the jaws with regard to the separating members may also be different from that shown in Fig. 1 with full lines.

The longitudinal axis of the jaws may be arranged at an angle with the axis of the pivot or hinge pin 7. In Fig. 1 three different positions at 30, and 90 are indicated in dotted lines designated 10, 11 and l2.

be put on to the rectum than on the sphincter and this is sometimes very efiicacious. Besides, with very fat persons the introducing of instruments with aws having an inclined position is facilitated.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the instrument is provided, apart from the chamfered edges 5, with a device which prevents a pinching of the mucous membranes and which possesses an invagination containing a lubricant.

The space between the two hollow jaws (Fig. 6) is filled with an air bulb 13 made for instance of rubber and communicates by means of a canal or duct 1 1 with a second bulb 15 which is held between the front parts of the separating members 2 (Fig. An. in agination 17 is formed in the head of the bulb 13 and may contain a lubricant 18 such as oil or a medicated plug.

When the massaging instrument has been introduced the handles are compressed whereby the bulb 15 willbe contracted. The air in this bulb will. be compressed and the bulb 13 will be inflated out and fill up the space between the opened jaws and thus the pinching of the mucous membranes will be prevented. At the same time the compressed air will press against. the invagination 17 and cause the discharge of the lubricant.

' The second bulb 15 could also be arranged otherwise than between the arms of the instrument and could be placed and worked independently from the instrument.

The spreading jaws could also have another form. They could for instance be arranged resiliently by means of springs and similar to the devices employed for manual gymnastics and could be kept closed by means of a catch while introducing them into the anus so that when the catch is released the jaws would be separated by the springs and become eiiicacious.

The instrument can also be employed for the prophylaxis of the hemorrhoids .and all such anal complaints, which can be favourably influenced by a massaging of the intestine muscles.

The form according to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 diilers from the instrument described in Fi s. 1 to 5 only in the shape of the separatin members. These are here flat massive formed like handles. There are also t jaws having chamferings 5. The two s however touch each other only at the upp and lower ends so as to reduce to a mininnun the possibility of pinching the mucous membranes. The pinching could be made quite impossible by means of a rubber hood put over the two jaws.

F 11 shows an instrument where the longitudinal axis of the'jaws is arranged with regard to the axis of the hinge or pivot in a similar way to that shown in Fig. 1. It is easily seen that the greater the inclination between the two axes the greater is the difference in the distances between the upper and lower ends of the two jaws. This diference will be a maximum if the two axes are arranged perpendicularly to each other.

What I claim is:

A massaging instrument, comprising a pair of companion semi-cylindrical jaws having their outer ends provided with mating bosses and their. longitudinal edges chamfered, thereby to form conjointly, when closed, a hollow cylindrical member having a head of enlarged diameter produced by the mating bosses; and a pair of-operating levers pivoted directly together intermediate their ends for repeatedly moving the ally and bodily away from and toward each other in a plane which is disposed at an 01 tuse angle to the plane of pivotal movement of said levers, said jaws being mounted on the free front ends of the levers.

In testimony whereof l'afiix my signature.

DR. MICHEL Bel-turns;

1 JS latel- 

